SERMON BY THE REVD JOHN WESLEY, A.M.
ON
Hebrews 4, 9. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."
DATED: June 15, 1768.
The actual fruition of God, all spiritual knowledge of him,
& a right disposition tow'd him were lost in the fall...

the people of God, seems rather to mean that
exceeding great & eternal weight of glory reserved in the
Heavens. The original word (Greek) used in the Text,
(which may imply the eternal sabbath) I think, fixes the sense
thus. In the verse...

shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying: Neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. (Rev 21: 4) For the Lord Jesus Christ shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body....

being destitute, afflicted, tormented. He who now suffer in any manner or degree for Righteousness sake, Take
courage. It will not always be so. Yet a little while & you shall enter your rest: Till then possess your souls in
patience. Esteem all...

shall take place of the sorrows of temptation in the hearts of the victorious saints. How inexpressibly great will be those temptations? Who hath been harrass'd & vexed & greviously tormented both with the adversary of mankind, & the plague of his...

Fear nor shame, nor sorrow, nor trouble can enter. From all personal afflictions we shall have an everlasting Rest.And from all those which can possibly arise from sympathy. Although this may seem a small thing to those yet live in Ease, or abound...

the things which God hath prepared for them yet love him.
This naturally leads me to see (2) who are they yet shall enter this glorious everlasting Rest? Who are they? Those that love God. Those who have received the grace of God and not in vain,...

they reckon themselves of that number therefore God will account them such. No, nor because their Neighbors esteem them so. For what is highly esteemed among Men is an abomination in the sight of God. Such must be changed, renewed, & sanctified, or...

evil. He is pure in heart & holy in life & all manner of conversation.
Seeing then such only are the people of God, and seeing none but they will enter into this glorious Rest: I ask "Art thou really one of the number"? Are thou inwardly pure? *...